Poinsettia plant named &#39;PER12_11&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Poinsettia plant named ‘PER12_11’, characterized by its uniform, upright and mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; inflorescences with pale pink-colored flower bracts; and good post-production longevity.

Botanical designation: Euphorbia×hybrid.

Cultivar denomination: ‘PER12_11’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY RELATED APPLICATIONS:

Title: Poinsettia Plant Named ‘PER35_11’

Applicant: Ruth Kobayashi

Filed: Jan. 9, 2016, concurrently with this application

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPoinsettia plant, botanically known as Euphorbia×hybrid, and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘PER12_11’.

The new Poinsettia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Encinitas, Calif. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new uniform Poinsettia plants havinginflorescences with numerous attractive flower bracts and excellentpost-production longevity.

The new Poinsettia plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutationof Euphorbia×hybrid ‘PERHC59B’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,158.The new Poinsettia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor asa single flowering plant from within a population of plants of‘PERHC59B’ in a controlled greenhouse environment in Encinitas, Calif.on Sep. 27, 2010.

Asexual reproduction of the new Poinsettia plant by terminal vegetativecuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Encinitas, Calif.since January, 2011 has shown that the unique features of this newPoinsettia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Poinsettia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however,any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘PER12_11’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘PER12_11’ as a new and distinct Poinsettiaplant:

-   -   1. Uniform, upright and mounded plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   5. Under natural season conditions, plants flower in        mid-November in Southern California.    -   6. Inflorescences with pale pink-colored flower bracts.    -   7. Good post-production longevity.

Plants of the new Poinsettia differ primarily from plants of themutation parent, ‘PERHC59B’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Poinsettia are not as vigorous as plants of        ‘PERHC59B’.    -   2. Plants of the new Poinsettia and ‘PERHC59B’ differ in flower        bract color as flower bracts of plants of ‘PERHC59B’ are hot        pink in color with light pink-colored margins.

Plants of the new Poinsettia differ primarily from plants ofEuphorbia×hybrid, ‘PER35_11’, in flower bract color as flower bracts ofplants of ‘PER35_11’ are bright red purple in color with white-coloredmargins. In addition, plants of the new Poinsettia are not as vigorousas plants of ‘PER35_11’.

Plants of the new Poinsettia can be compared to plants of theEuphorbia×hybrid ‘PERHC18B’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisonsconducted in Encinitas, Calif., plants of the new Poinsettia differedprimarily from plants of ‘PERHC18B’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Poinsettia were male and female sterile        whereas plants of ‘PERHC18B’ were male fertile and female        sterile.    -   2. Plants of the new Poinsettia and ‘PERCH18B’ differed in        flower bract color as flower bracts of plants of ‘PERHC18B’ were        darker pink in color.

Plants of the new Poinsettia can also be compared to plants of theEuphorbia ‘Princettia Hot Pink’, not patented. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Encinitas, Calif., plants of the new Poinsettiadiffered primarily from plants of ‘Princettia Hot Pink’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Poinsettia were more vigorous than plants        of ‘Princettia Hot Pink’.    -   2. Plants of the new Poinsettia were more upright than and not        as mounding as plants of ‘Princettia Hot Pink’.    -   3. Plants of the new Poinsettia and ‘Princettia Hot Pink’        differed in flower bract color as flower bracts of plants of        ‘Princettia Hot Pink’ were hot pink in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Poinsettia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Poinsettia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side to top perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘PER12_11’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘PER12_11’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and in the followingdetailed description were grown during the late autumn/early winter in16.5-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Encinitas,Calif. under natural season conditions and cultural practices typical ofcommercial Poinsettia production. During the production of the plants,day temperatures averaged 26° C., night temperatures averaged 18° C. andlight levels averaged 5,000 foot-candles. Measurements and numericalvalues represent averages for typical flowering plants. Plants werepinched one time and were 25 weeks old when the photographs and thedescription were taken. In the following description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Euphorbia×hybrid ‘PER12_11’.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of    Euphorbia×hybrid ‘PERHC59B’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.    24,158.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About seven to ten days at night            temperatures about 20° C. and day temperatures about 27° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About four weeks at            night temperatures about 20° C. and day temperatures about            27° C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous; typically white in color, actual            color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition,            water quality, fertilizer type and formulation, substrate            temperature and physiological age of roots.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant habit and form.—Uniform, upright and mounded plant            habit; inverted triangle; large branched inflorescences            positioned above the foliar plane; moderately vigorous            growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 33 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 43 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Quantity: Freely branching            habit, about six to seven lateral branches develop after            pinching. Length: About 29 cm. Diameter: Thick, about 7.5 mm            to 8 mm. Internode length: About 1 cm to 2 cm. Strength:            Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Luster: Moderately            glossy. Color: Close to between 144A and 146A.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:            About 11.4 cm. Width: About 6.4 cm. Shape: Narrowly ovate to            elliptical. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Obtuse with cuneate            tendencies. Margin: Entire; undulate. Aspect: Mostly            horizontal. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;            velvety. Texture, lower surface: Glabrous; prominent            venation. Luster, upper and lower surfaces: Matte. Venation            pattern: Pinnate, arcuate. Color: Developing and fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker green than between            N137A and 147A; venation, close to 146A to 146B. Developing            and fully expanded leaves, lower surface: More green than            147B; venation, close to 146B to 146C. Leaf petioles:            Length: About 5 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Somewhat glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to            146A to 146B. Color, lower surface: Close to 146B to 146C.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence type and habit.—Inflorescences are compound            corymbs of cyathia with colored flower bracts subtending the            cyathia; inflorescences positioned above the foliar plane.        -   Quantity of inflorescence.—One inflorescence develops per            lateral branch; inflorescences typically are divided into            three parts.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flowering response.—Under natural season conditions, plants            typically flower in mid-November in Southern California;            under artificial long nyctoperiod/short photoperiod            conditions, plants flower about seven to eight weeks later.        -   Post-production longevity.—Good post-production longevity;            plants of the new Poinsettia maintain good substance and            flower bract color for about four to six weeks under            interior conditions; inflorescences persistent.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter, per inflorescence division:            About 15 cm. Height (depth): About 5 cm.        -   Flower bracts.—Quantity per inflorescence division: About 15            to 18. Length, largest bracts: About 7.5 cm. Width, largest            bracts: About 3.75 cm. Shape: Narrowly ovate to elliptical.            Apex: Acute to slightly acuminate. Base: Obtuse with cuneate            tendencies. Margin: Mostly entire; slightly undulate.            Aspect: Initially upright and becoming closer to horizontal            with development. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;            velvety. Texture, lower surface: Glabrous; prominent            venation. Luster, upper and lower surfaces: Matte. Venation            pattern: Pinnate, arcuate. Color: Developing or transitional            bracts, upper surface: Ground color, brighter green than            146A; irregular and random interveinal sectors, close to            NN155C, 62C and 62D. Developing or transitional bracts,            lower surface: Ground color, more green than 146A; irregular            and random interveinal sectors, close to 155D. Fully            expanded bracts, upper surface: Close to 62B to 62C;            occasionally flecks, close to N57A; color does not fade with            development. Fully expanded bracts, lower surface: Close to            62C to 62D; color does not fade with development. Bract            petioles: Length: About 2.1 cm. Diameter: About 2.25 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Luster,            upper and lower surfaces: Somewhat glossy. Color, upper and            lower surfaces: Close to 144A to 144B.        -   Cyathia.—Rudimentary cyathia have been observed, however            they do not develop stamens nor pistils and typically            abscise as the flower bracts develop color. Quantity per            inflorescence division: About 15 to 18. Length: About 3 mm.            Width: About 2.5 mm. Shape: Round. Color: Close to N144A.        -   Nectaries.—None observed.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright to outwardly. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to N144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Cyathia of plants of the new            Poinsettia have not been observed to develop stamens.            Pistils: Cyathia of plants of the new Poinsettia have not            been observed to develop pistils.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production has not been            observed on plants of the new Poinsettia.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Poinsettia have not    been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Poinsettia plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Poinsettia have been    observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 16° C. to about    29° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Poinsettia plant named ‘PER12_11’as illustrated and described.